15 



distribution at the very close of the year. A similar apology was made- 

 last year by the retiring Council, with regard to tlie part published V>y 

 them, and led to a lively discussion at the annual meeting as to the 

 necessity of an earlier publication. Your Council was most anxious^ 

 to carry out the wishes of the Club in this direction, but 

 found it impossible to be more prompt than their predecessors. 

 The question of future publication has, however, been carefully con- 

 sidered, and a scheme is now presented, which, if it meet with your 

 approval, will ensure not only an eai-lier publication, but also a more 

 complete record of the work of the Club, and bring it more prominently 

 before the members and the public. It is proposed that publication 

 shall be monthly, instead of annually, and there appears to be much 

 in favour of this step, while the only objection seems to be the 

 additional expense which may be involved. It is found that to 

 publish a journal of 16 pages each month will cost al)Out $100 a year 

 over the average cost of the last three numbers of the Transactions. 

 This sum will be I'eadily raised if each member will use his or her 

 influence in bringing others into the Club, or by inducing them to lie- 

 come subscribers to the proposed journal. 



The following are some of the advantages which will accrue from 

 the suggested method of publishing : The membei-a receiving the 

 numbers regularly will have the objects of the Club kept before them, 

 and as reports of all meetings, excursions, sub-excursions, soirees and 

 other proceedings will be printed, in addition to the papers and reports, 

 now published, they will be kept posted as to the work being per- 

 formed, and will have their interest therein aroused and strengthened. 

 This will more especially be the case with such membej-s 

 as do not reside in the -city, or are prevented from at- 

 tending the excursions and meetings. These hav now to wait 

 for at least several months before they i-eceive the Transactions, and 

 they have no regular means of learning anything further regarding the^ 

 excursions and classes than the meagre synopsis which appears in the 

 Annual Report of the Council. Information can also be regularly 

 given as to proposed excursions, soirees, classes or other undertakings 

 of the Club. Kindred societies with which we exchange will 

 see that the Club is 'vigorous, and desirous of making its publications 



